Tips for Responsible Travellers

Here are a few useful tips that will help you be a more responsible traveller.

When planning your holiday through an agent, use one that practices responsible tourism such as responsibletravel.com.

Unfortunately all-inclusive resorts are probably the least likely to follow responsible tourism guidelines. Most of the money you pay will bypass the local economy and go to an overseas conglomerate. The food may not be local, and the employees may not even be locals.

Try and organise your flight so that there are fewer stops.  Take-off and landing uses the most fuel therefore causing more harm to the environment.

Use an airline or operator that contributes to carbon offsetting.

Try to find locally owned and run hotels and accommodation.  If possible, avoid businesses that are run by overseas companies (that includes the local McDonald’s).

Take short showers, not baths.

Report leaks and dripping taps.

Turn off lights and air conditioning when you leave a room.

Ask for towels and linen to be changed less often if there is no voluntary scheme available. You will help save on laundry and associated costs, electric and water.

Re-use plastic bags when you go shopping.

Re-use plastic water bottles or take your own water filter bottle. (Decant from larger bottles if tap water is not potable). NEW Travel Tap Instant use purified filter water bottle 650ml/3200 litres Carrier and spare purification filter cartridge

Buy locally produced food and drink.

Eat in locally-owned cafes and restaurants.

Buy locally-produced gifts and souvenirs. However, don’t buy anything made from shells, turtle shell, coral, or any other wildlife – you’ll be contributing to their exploitation and it may be illegal to bring home.

Use public transport, cycle or walk whenever possible – this will keep you closer to the community and in touch with the places you visit.  It is also better for you!

Respect local customs and dress accordingly.  Cover up when you are not on the beach; especially in towns, shops, restaurants and when visiting religious establishments.

Ask permission before taking photographs of people.

Dispose of litter carefully. Take pride and take your rubbish to a bin or back to your hotel with you. If you can, remove packaging before you leave home.

If you are being pestered by over enthusiastic sales people, decline politely, or with a sense of humour. Please don’t be rude – everyone’s trying to make a living after all!

If you go fishing, don’t leave behind discarded tackle. Entanglement is one of the most common causes of seabird and other marine species’ fatalities.

When you are snorkelling, act sensitively, keep your impact to a minimum, and try not to touch. Corals, for example, are made up of many living polyps that secrete a thin mucous for their protection. Touching these tiny animals can mean the kiss of death.  Do not remove artefacts or shells (this is prohibited in many places anyway).

Don’t be impatient.  In many places the culture is much more relaxed than you are used to so do not expect a fast and snappy service. Relax, go with the flow – you are on holiday after all!

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